The MP for East Worthing and Shoreham is to step down at the next General Election.
Tim Loughton took up his post in 1997. In a letter to the chairman of his local Conservative Association, he said, “In politics, I think it's wiser to leave 5 minutes too soon than to continue for five years too long.”
Loughton is the latest Tory MP to announce they will not seek re-election.
So far, 64 Conservative MPs have said they will either stand down from the Commons or not seek re-election.